Three Voices of Art Therapy

This important and powerful story relates a young man's journey from depression to health and creativity through art therapy. It is illustrated by a series of extraordinary images produced by the patient, Kim, throughout his two year relationship with art therapist, Gabrielle Rifkind. When she first met Kim he was withdrawn, isolated, had suicidal thoughts and was encased in a metaphorical 'suit of armour'. Through the process of weekly art therapy sessions he slowly began to work through his difficulties, to face the real world, and by exploring his own creativity, learn to live with himself. This is a rare opportunity to hear the voice of the patient as well as that of the therapist. The therapy and process come alive' in the text which addresses the reality of the individual experience of both patient and therapist as well as the reciprocal difficulties that each sets up for the other. Three Voices is illustrated with images chosen to represent each stage of Kim's therapeutic experience, expressing the issues with which he was struggling at the time and illustrating his process of change. This emphasis on the images serves to convey how the visual communication and the centrality of the image in the process is essential to the effectiveness of art therapy. The third voice, that of Tessa Dalley, provides an objective view of the process as it occurs, analysing the developing relationship between the therapist, patient and image and setting this in the context of art therapy theory. Such a detailed account of clinical practice within art therapy is rarely available.